Parachute



Feb. 14, 1939. M. 'RQussELoT, BORN TR|Au 2,146,990

PARAGHUTE Filed Nov. 1a, 1936 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 F b. 14, 1939. v

Q M. 'ROUSSELOT, BORN TRICAU 2,146,990

PARACHUTE Filed Ndv. 1a 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 3 v to Patented Feb. 14, 1939 v UNITED STATES PATENT orries In N a cum. (cl. 344-148) This invention relates to parachutes and, more particularly, to the bags or similar devices in which are enclosed the sails o1 parachutes when not in use and the devices controlling the opening of said bags,

The invention is particularly adapted to avoid untimely opening of parachute bags, which opening is most dangerous when it occurs on board aircraft during flight, and also to allow of providing parachutes which are of very small thickness wheniolded, occupy a small amount of space, and allow the users to easily eilect any desired operationsi In order that the invention may be more 1 clearly understood, various parachute bags in accordance with said invention are described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a front ele- 20 vation, a side view and a rear elevation of a first form of parachute bag according to the' invention.

Fig. 4'is an elevation of a cutter. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the attachment of the cutters to the cable connecting the pilot or extracting chute to the top of the sail.

Figs. 6 and '7 are respectively a front elevation and a side view of a second form of parachute- 30 bag according to the invention.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the folding of the sail.

Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively a front elevationand a side view of a third form of parachute bag according to the invention.

The parachute bag illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 is constituted by a back I, formed for instance of a frame made of flexible steel wire to which can be secured veneer or a sheet 01' any other 40 material of suitable strength. This back I can a conveniently be curved so as to conform to the shape of the users back.

On this back are secured eight small closing flaps: six side flaps 2 and an upper and a lower 45 flap 3. The six lateral flaps 2 are of triangular shape whilethe upperand the lower flaps 3 are of trapezoidal shape and are secured .tothe bottom of the bag.

Said back also comprises another large clos- 50 ingfiap 4 which can cover .all the other flaps and is secured along one of the long sides of the back I. This flap 4 is provided with elastic bands 5 arranged transversely, and with other elastic bands 6 secured along its free edges and 5 straddling the latter.

The opposed side flaps 2 are rendered rigid one with the other, two by two, by means of small closing strings I which are each passed inasmallcuttertsecuredtotheendoiabraidi.

Thelarge flap 4 is provided, along its three 5 ,i'ree sides, with buckles III (or rings) preferably secured to the elastic bands, and to these buckles II correspond other buckles II (or rings) secured. to the back I. The buckles ll are each connected to each of the buckles II correspond- 10 ing thereto, by means of a closing string I2 which is passed through a small cutter 8 also secured to one of the ends of a braid-9. Y

The small cutters 8 are constituted, as shown in Fig. 4, by a small plate having an elongated opening I! the middle portion of which is constricted and has a width smaller than the diam-. eter oi the closing strings I and I2, whereas one 01 its ends presents a portion of semi-circular shape the edge I3- oi. which is a cutting edge and constitutes the cutter proper.

When closing the bag, the closing strings I and II are each passed through the portion I3 of the opening I3 01' the corresponding cutter I, so that said strings can come in contact with the cutting edge I3 only when a sufllcient stress is exerted on the cutters 8.

The braids 8 are secured to the cable I4 connecting the small pilot or extracting chute I5 to the top of the sail I6 (Fig. 5). These braids 8 are of unequal length in order that the closing strings should be cut one after the other and that the opening of the bag does not require an eflort greater than that which is necessary for cutting a single closing string.

The small pilot or extracting chute I5 is placed, for instance, in a small pocket I'I arranged at the upper part of the bag and also closed'by one or more closing strings which can be severed by small cutters, or by any other means, which 4 might also be actuated by'a hand control device and by an automatic'control device. Of course, Fig. 5 is, as already stated above oi a tic nature, and in practice, the sail It comes out of the bag only when, on the one hand, allthe cutters 8 have operated and when, on the other hand, the cable I4 is stretched. The parachute bag illustrated in Figs. 6 and 'l is composed of several elementary bags I8, I8, I8, each constituted for instance in a manner o substantially similar to the has described above. The elementary bags I8, I 8'' and I8 are jointed to each other by hinges I9, made of metal or webbing. The bag I8 extends from the users shoulders, on which it can fit, down to the belt, at g constituting a cutter.

and it is provided with a cut-away part 20 for the passage of the users neck. 7

This bag isadapted to contain the sail IQ of the parachute, this sail being folded in such a manner that the bag is of very small thickness at the. place of the users shoulder blades; for that purpose, the sail l8 can-be folded as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8, that is to say so as to be pleated at the places It and I8 corresponding respectively to the lower part and to the upper part of the bag I8.

I The bag It" extends from the bag l8 down below the belt, and it is adapted to contain the shroud lines of the sail'which are coiled in the usuallmanner' and the loops'of which are held by elastic bands.

Finally, the bag I8, arranged at the lower part of thebag' I8", is adapted to contain the suspension cable and, if need be, the shock absorber and the safety cable, these various accessories being secured on the back of this bag by means ofthreads'to be broken or of small straps the ends of which are held either by said threads, or by press buttons, or other similar means This bag is attached, for instance, on a belt .2l, shoulder straps 22 maintaining the upper part of the bag I! correctly in position on the users shoulders.

The small .pilot or extracting chute is contained in a smallpocket' 23 provided on one of the shoulder straps 22 at the place of a shoulder.

but slightly in front of the latter; this pocket is closed by one or more closing strings, or by any other means, the rupture of which can be effected by a hand control device or by an automatic control device.

The parachute ba'g illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 is constituted in the same manner as the. bag shown in Figs. 6 and '7, with the exception that the elementary bags 18!, I8 and "Fare covered by a single flap 24 similar to the flap 4 of the bag shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The pilot or extracting chute is still placed in a pocket 23 provided on one of the shoulder straps 22.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A parachute bag comprising a back part adapted to fit upon the users back, a flap carried by the back part and adapted to externally cover said bag when it is folded down, p

buckles attached -on---the periphery, of the back and the free sides of the flap, closing strings for connecting each of the buckles of the back to that of the buckles ofthe flap corresponding thereto, and cutters associated with said closing strings for severing these closing strings, these cutters being constituted by a small plate perforated with an elongated opening the middle portion of which is constricted and has a width smaller than the diameter of the closing string, whilst one of its .ends has a cuttingporticn 2. A parachute bag for a parachute and a pilot -..parachute connected by a cable to the top of =--s-said parachute, comprising a back part adapted to fit ,upon the users back, a flap carried by said back part and adapted to externally cover it when it is folded down, a plurality of separate and independent fastening devices arranged at suitably spaced intervals along the periphery of the .back part and the free sides of the flap, and means connected with the cable connecting the pilot chute to the top of the parachute and including separate devices 'associated with the fastening devices for releasing the fastening devices.

3. A parachute bag for a parachute and a pilot parachute connected by a cable to the top of said parachute, comprising a back part adapted to flt upon the users back, a flap carried by said back part and adapted to externally cover it when it is folded down, a plurality of separate and independent fastening devices arranged atsuitably spaced intervals along the periphery of the back part and the free sides of the flap, and means of unequal length connected with the cable connecting the pilot chute to the top of the parachute and including separate elements for successively actuating the fastening devices to permit opening of the flap.

4. A parachute bag for a parachute and a pilot parachute connected by a cable to the top of the said parachute, comprising a back part to fit upon the users back, a flap, carried by said back part and adapted to externally cover it when it to fit upon the userfs back and compmed of a plurality of interconnected rigid parts and flexible ,parts, a flap carried by said back part and adapted to externally cover it when it is folded down, a plurality of separate closing strips arranged at suitably spaced intervals along the periphery of the back part and the free sides of the flap, and means of unequal length connected to the cable connecting the pilot chute to the top of the parachute and including a pluralityof separate severing devices for cooperating. with each of the separate closing strings.

6. A parachute bag for a parachute and a pilot parachute connected by a cable to the top of the said parachute, comprising a back part adapted to fit upon the users back and including a plurality of interconnected rigid and flexible parts, flaps each carried by one of the rigid parts of said back and each adapted to externally cover said rigid part when it is folded down, a plurality of separate closing strings attached to the periphery of each of the back parts and the free sides of the corresponding flaps, and means of unequal length'connected with the cable connecting the pilot chute to the top of the parachute and including a plurality of separate severing devices for severing the closingstrings and allowing'the opening of the bag.

7. A parachute bag for a parachute and a pilot parachute connected by a cable to the top of the said parachute, comprising a back part adapted to fit upon the users back and composed of a plurality of interconnected rigid parts and flexible parts, a flap carried by said back part and adapted to externally cover it when it is folded down, a plurality of separate closing strips arranged at suitably spaced intervals along the periphery of the back part and the free sides of the flap, mearrs of unequal length connected to the cable connecting the pilot chute to the top of the parachute and including a plurality of separate severing devices for cooperating with ery of the back part and the free sides of the flap, each of the separate closing strings, and a pocket closing strings for connecting each of the buckles arranged at the upper part of the back and of the back part to that of the buckles of the flap adapted to contain the pilot chute. corresponding thereto; means of unequal length 5 8. A parachute bag for a parachute and a pilot connected with the cable connecting the pilot 5 parachute connected by a cable to the top of the chute to the top of the parachute and cutters said parachute, comprising a back part adapted attached to the ends of the said means for to fit upon the users back,-a flap carried by said severing said closing strings and allowing the back part and adapted to externally cover it when opening of the bag. 10 it is folded down, buckles attached on the periph- MARCELLE ROUSSELOT, BORN TRICAU. 10 

